ORABLES 
 
 OF THE 
 

 \4 oo Air©-rATaAteifS«*i 
 
CORNELL UNIVERSITY 
 
 ITHACA , NEWYORK 
 
 OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 
 
 January 9, 192B. 
 
 Dear Mr. Austen: 
 
 This letter accompanies three hooks which 
 I hereby give to the Cornell University Library, 0?he 
 books are 
 
 (1) A letter of directions to his father's birthplace, 
 
 by John Ho^es, with notes and a genealogy by 
 D. Williams Patterson. Hew York: Printed for 
 the U. Q. Club. 1865. 
 
 (2) John Watson, of Hartford, Conn., and his descend- 
 
 ants. A genealogy, by Thomas Watson. New York: 
 Printed for the U. Q. Club. 1865. 
 
 (3) Memorables of the Montgomeries. New York: Printed 
 
 for the Zing of Clubs. 1866. 
 
 Yours sincerely. 
 
 Woodford Patterson 
 
 Mr. Willard Austen, Librarian, 
 Cornell University Library. 
 
 ^ 
 
CS479 .Miriaer""^ '■"'"'^ 
 
 III 
 
 a narr 
 
 3 1924 029 788 662 
 
 Overs 
 
^« 
 
 Cornell University 
 Library 
 
 The original of this book is in 
 the Cornell University Library. 
 
 There are no known copyright restrictions in 
 the United States on the use of the text. 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029788662 
 
MEMORABLES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MONTGOMERIES 
 
 Printed for the King of Clubs. 
 1866. 
 
mljscriljijr's fop2» 
 
 No. b. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The following Ballad carries the genealogy of the 
 family, whofe Memorables it fets forth, to a period 
 quite remote. A Roman anceftry is not readily eftab- 
 lilhed in our days ; but, unfortunately for us, the Ballad 
 fails to trace the connedting links for fix hundred years, 
 and gives no authority for this antiquity but tradition, 
 which, however pleafing to the poet, is not fatisfaftory 
 to the genealogift. 
 
 In recounting the deeds of his anceftry who had been 
 made Memorable in hiftory, the writer was not content 
 to begin with Earl Roger, the Great Memorable; but, 
 boldly leaping over centuries, feeks a higher origin for 
 the family; and feeking — not in vain, he fuppofes — 
 finds it rooted in " a noble Roman." 
 
 We could fpeculate on the influences which fuch a 
 tradition might have in urging Earl Roger to accom- 
 pany Norman William in his expedition to the fhores 
 of Britain, whither poffibly his Roman progenitor had 
 often gone in command of his legionaries, the foldiers 
 
a INTRODUCTION. 
 
 of a conquering nation ; but as the Ballad does not 
 indicate that any fuch influences were exerted, we are 
 not juftified in afluming their exiftence. Let us, there- 
 fore, believe that Roger at Haftings so fignally main- 
 tained the honor of the day out of loyal love to his 
 fovereign and kinfman. 
 
 If this Memorable Earl gained Shrewfbury and Arun- 
 del as the reward of his loyalty, much more did his fons 
 lofe from the fame caufe ; for they loft not only thefe, 
 but all that he and they had fince acquired by their 
 valor and faithfulnefs, rather than fupport the Con- 
 queror's younger fon in his pretenfions to his father's 
 throne. The fucceeding generation came from the lands 
 that Henry's enmity had not yet defpoiled them of in 
 Normandy, to Scotland with good King David, where 
 branches of the family remain firmly planted to this day. 
 And it was, doubtlefs, among the woods and braes of 
 poetic Ayrfliire that this metrical hiftory was framed, 
 but by whom we know not, though his contemporaries 
 muft have been well acquainted with him through his 
 Ballad, which was recited in many a Montgomery home 
 in Ayr. And copied by hands of kinsfolk, it was handed 
 about from family to family until Mr. Hugh Mont- 
 gomerie. Senior, at Eaglefliam, unwilling it fliould remain 
 in fuch perifliable forms, had it put in print in the year 
 
INTRODUCTION. Ill 
 
 1770. A fecond edition of but feventy-five copies was 
 printed in 1822, one of which it may be is the only 
 copy of the Ballad that has reached this country. 
 
 Let us thank Mr. Hugh Montgomerie, Senior, for his 
 thought of his kinfmen of later generations, and fhow our 
 appreciation of this confideration by printing another fmall 
 edition of the Ballad for the benefit of thofe who may de- 
 fire to pofl'efs copies of fuch a hiftory in metre. It may 
 alfo ferve a ufeful purpofe in affording to the owners of 
 the Hiftory and Pedigree of Montgomery, printed in 
 1863, an opportunity of reading the chief points of per- 
 fonal intereft in the family's hiftory in more mufical 
 numbers than are to be found in the pages of that book. 
 
 Philadelphia, July Fourth, 1865. 
 
MEMORABLES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MONTGOMEEIES, 
 
 A NARRATIVE IN RHYME, 
 COMPOSED BEFORE THE PRESENT CENTURY, 
 
 PRINTBD FROM 
 
 THE ONLY COPY KNOWN TO REMAIN, 
 
 WHICH HAS BEEN PEESERVED ABOVE SIXTY TEARS BY THE 
 
 CARE OF HUGH MONTGOMERIE SENIOR AT EAGLESHAM, 
 
 LONG ONE OF THE FACTORS OF THE 
 
 FAMILY OF EGLINTOUN. 
 
 GLASGOW, 
 
 PRINTED BY ROBERT AND ANDREW FOULIS, 
 M.DCO-IiXX. 
 
MEMORABLiES 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MOlVTOOMERIfS. 
 
 A Noble Roman was the root 
 
 From which Montgomeries came, 
 Who brought his legion from the war, 
 
 And settled the same 
 Upon an hill 'twixt Rome and Spain, 
 
 •f- Gomericus by name ; 
 From which he and his off-spring do 
 
 Their sir-name still retain. 
 From this unto the wars of France, 
 
 Their valour did them bring, 
 That they great instruments might be. 
 
 To save the Gallic king : 
 Here with great splendor and renown. 
 
 Six centuries they spend : 
 At length for England they set sail ; 
 
 Ambition hath no end. 
 
 f Mons Gomericus. 
 
MEMORABLES OF 
 
 On British ground they land at length, 
 
 Rodger must general be, 
 A cousin of the conqueror's, 
 
 And fittest to supplie 
 The greatest post into the field. 
 
 The army then leads he 
 Into a camp, Hastings by name, 
 
 In Sussex where you'll see 
 The marks of camps unto this day; 
 
 And where you'll hear it told. 
 The English king did them attack 
 
 Most like a captain bold. 
 But soon, alas ! he found it vain. 
 
 With Rodger arms to try : 
 This warry officer prepares. 
 
 His projects to defy. 
 The strong attacks he then observes. 
 
 Which made him thence to dread. 
 That England's king might be among 
 
 Those who charg'd with such speed : 
 
THE MONTGOMERIES. 3 
 
 The life-guards straight he ordered, 
 
 Their fury to defend ; 
 Where Harold, England's king at once. 
 
 His crown and life did end. 
 Whence to the conqueror did come 
 
 The English scepter great, 
 And William, England's king declar'd. 
 
 To London came in state. 
 -|- Earl; Rodger then' the greatest man, 
 
 Next to the king ^was thought ; 
 And nothing that he could desire. 
 
 But it to him was brought. 
 Montgomery town, Montgomery shire 
 
 And earl of Shrewsburie, 
 And Arundale do shew this man. 
 
 Of grandeur full to be. 
 Thus did he live all this king's reign : 
 
 For works of piety. 
 He built an abbacie and then, 
 
 Prepar'd himself to die. 
 
 f Dugdale's Baronage, and Histories of England. 
 
 B 
 
4 MEMORABLES OF 
 
 At last king William yields to fate ; 
 
 And then his second son 
 Mounts on the throne, which had almost 
 
 The kingdom quite undone : 
 Some for the eldest son stand up, 
 
 As Rodger's sons did all : 
 But the usurper keeps the throne, 
 
 Which did begin their fall. 
 Then Philip into Scotland came. 
 
 Unable to endure ; 
 That they who earldoms had possest. 
 
 Of nought should be secure. 
 The king of Scots well knew the worth 
 
 Of men of noble race. 
 Who in no time of ages past. 
 
 Their worth did once deface. 
 He in the Merse gives Philip lands. 
 
 Which afterwards he soon. 
 With the black Douglass did exchange 
 
 For Eastwood and Ponoon. 
 
THE M O N T G O M E RI E S. 
 
 Where many ages they did live, 
 
 By king and country lov'd ; 
 As men of valour and renown, 
 
 Who were with honour mov'd; 
 To shun no hazard, when they could 
 
 To either service do : 
 Thus did they live, thus did they spend 
 
 Their blood and money too : 
 At last earl Douglass did inform, 
 
 That to our king's disgrace : 
 An English earl had deeply swore, 
 :? He'd hunt in Chevychase ; 
 And maugre all that Scots could do 
 
 Would kill and bear away 
 The choicest deer of Otterburn, 
 
 And best of harts would slay. 
 Our king sent his commands unto 
 
 Sir Hugh Montgomerie, 
 And told him Douglass wanted men 
 
 Who fight could, but not flee. 
 
O MEMORABLESOF 
 
 * The stout sir Hugh himself prepares, 
 
 The Douglass to support ; 
 And with him took his eldest son ; 
 
 Then did they all resort 
 Unto the field, with their brave men. 
 
 Where most of them did die; 
 Of fifteen hundred warlike Scots 
 
 Came home but fifty three. 
 Douglass was slain, sir Hugh again 
 
 The battle did renew; 
 He made no stand, with his own hand 
 
 The earl Percie he slew. 
 Sir Hugh was slain, sir John maintain'd 
 
 The honour of the day ; 
 And with him brought the victory. 
 
 And Percy's son away. 
 He with his ransom built Ponoon, 
 
 A castle which yet stands ; 
 The king well pleas' d as a reward 
 
 Did therefore give him lands. 
 
 * Histories of Scotland. 
 
THE M O NT GO M E RI ES. 7 
 
 And sometime after'gave his niece, 
 
 Of Eglintoun the heir, 
 To sir Hugh's representative ; 
 
 Thus joined was this pair. 
 As with her came a great estate j 
 
 So by her did descend. 
 Her royar blood to* Lennox house. 
 
 Which did in Darnly end, 
 Who father was to J^mes the sixth, 
 
 Of Britain the first king, 
 Whose ro^al race unto this day, 
 
 Doth o'er great Britain reign. 
 Since you are come of royal blood. 
 
 And kings are spryng from you, 
 See that with greatest zeal and love. 
 
 Those virtues ye pursue, 
 Which to those honours rais'd your house, 
 
 And shall without all stain, 
 In heralds books your ensigns flowr'd. 
 
 And counter-flowr'd maintain. 
 
 * Earl of L,ennox. 
 
 FINIS.